Corset.



' M. SHAW.

consu. APPLICATION FILED APR. 20| 9l6.

Patented Nov. 20, 1917.

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- finira MINNI'EiSHAWyOF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. f l

Sneqaton 0f Letters Patent- PatentedNov. 20, *7;

To all whom z5 may concern;

Be it known that I, MINNIE SHAW, a

citizen of the United States, and a resident of the/city ofV Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Corsets, of which the following is a specication.

My invention relates to improvements in corsets and has for its object the production of a corset which will afford ease and comfort to the wearer and which will provide a smooth, even surface for engagement with outer garments of the wearer.

A further object is the production of a corset which will be of durable and economical construction and which may be readily and expeditiously applied in the employment of the corset.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.y

The invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, and in which the figure is a perspective view of a corset embodying the invention.

The preferred form of construction, as

illustrated in the drawing comprises a corset l which in general construction is conventional. The corset 1s provided, as 1s usual, with an opening 2 at its rearwardl side extending the entire length of the corset, which opening is spanned by lacings 3 whereby the width of said opening may be varied to tighten or loosen the corset as will be readily understood.

Provided upon the outer side of the corset at the back of the same is a covering element 4 adapted, when in operative position,

Y to cover the opening 2. Said element 4 comprises a central body portion of elastic material which is reinforced at its longitudinal edges by strips 5 and 6 of non-elastic material which embrace said edges, being secured thereto by the stitching. One edge of the covering element 4 is permanently secured by stitching 7 to the body of the corset at one side of opening 2, said stitching 7 passing through the edging strip 5. The opposite edge of said covering element is releasably secured to the corset by means of a plurality of hooks 8 spacedV along the free edge of said covering element at the under-side thereof, said hooks 8 being fastened to the edging strip 6. The hooks 8 are adapted to engage with either of two spaced-rows of eyes'9 and 10 which are provided upon the corset l at the opposite side of opening 2. The eyes 9 are attached to a supplemental strip 1l provided upon the corset which strip is adapted to loosely engage over the eyelets of the corset at the corresponding side of opening 2 which are engaged by lacings 3 as will be readily understood. Two spaced rows of eyes are provided to allow fork a wide range of adjustment in the corset, that is in the width in the opening 2 without rendering the covering member 4 inoperative. The elasticity of the covering member of course compensates for lesser adjustments in the width of vopening 2.

With the construction set forth it will be seen that at all times the opening 2 will be completely closed by the covering or closing member, and because of the elasticity thereof and the adjustment afforded by the pro-- vision of a plurality of rows of eye-s for engagement with theA hooks provided upon the covering member, said covering member will remain in snug engagement over the lacings 3 and against the body of the wearer. Such a closing member serves to protect and reinforce the back or spine of the wearer and thus to conduce to the ease and comfort of the wearer. The covering or closing member may be attached to any corset al-l ready in use or may be made a part of a corset in the course of manufacture of the same.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of'variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claim. Y

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A corset having the usual adjacent edges and lacings connecting the same. forming an opening of variable width co-extensive in length with the corset; a covering element of elastic material arranged at the outer side of the corset for covering said Q iszimoie 10 vices provided upon the corset for engagement by said first mentioned engaging devices, substantially as desoribed.

1n testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. v

MINNiE SHAW. l

Witnesses:

JOSHUA R. H. Po'r'rs, HELEN F. Linus.

Gomes of this )patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing th@ Qommssoner of Patents., Washington, D. G. 

